LiramiLirami

Si-clauses · if + present / past

Real: si + present, then the future (S'il pleut, je resterai). Imagined: si + imparfait, then the conditional (Si j'étais riche, je voyagerais).

Examples

  • S'il pleut, nous resterons à la maison.If it rains, we'll stay at home.
  • Si j'étais riche, je voyagerais.If I were rich, I would travel.

How it works

French "if" sentences come in two main types, chosen by how likely the situation is. The rule is strict: after si, never use the future or the conditional.

Real possibility

si + present, then the future (or the present / a command):

S'il pleut, nous resterons à la maison.
If it rains, we'll stay at home.
Si tu viens, je serai content.
If you come, I'll be happy.
si + il / ils becomes s'il / s'ils; si elle and si on don't change.

Imagined or unlikely

si + imparfait (the past form for descriptions, j'avais, j'étais), then the conditional ("would" form):

Si j'avais de l'argent, j'achèterais une maison.
If I had money, I would buy a house.
Si j'étais toi, je l'appellerais.
If I were you, I'd call him.

THE CONDITIONAL ("would" form) = the future stem + the imparfait endings:

je voyagerais, tu voyagerais, il voyagerait,
nous voyagerions, vous voyageriez, ils voyageraient
Irregular stems as in the future: serais, aurais, irais, ferais, pourrais, voudrais.

Order

the si part can come first (with a comma) or second (no comma):

Il viendrait s'il pouvait.He would come if he could.

Common mistakes

Si il pleutS'il pleut
S'il pleuvra demain…S'il pleut demain…

no future after si

Si j'aurais de l'argent…Si j'avais de l'argent…

no conditional after si

Si j'avais le temps, je viendrai… je viendrais

would = -ais ending

What you'll practise

  1. 1. si + present → future

    A real possibility: si + present, then the future (S'il pleut, je resterai à la maison).

    • Si tu viens, je serai content.If you come, I'll be happy.

  2. 2. si + imparfait → conditional

    Imagined or unlikely: si + imparfait (j'avais, j'étais), then the "would" form (je voyagerais).

    • Si j'avais de l'argent, j'achèterais une maison.If I had money, I would buy a house.

  3. 3. Never the future or conditional after si

    si + il → s'il; after si use the present or the imparfait, never the future or the conditional.

    • Il viendrait s'il pouvait.He would come if he could.

Practise it until it sticks

Short drills built on these 3 skills, with instant feedback on every answer. Free to start.

Practise thisCreate a free account